Keflector-lamp



3 Sheets-Sheet l.

J. H. PHASE. REFLECTOR LAMP.

No. 9,001. Patented June 8, 1852.

3 Sheets- Sheet 2.

J. H. PEASE. REFLECTOR LAMP.

No. 9.001. Patented June 8, 1852.

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3 SheetsSheet 3.

J. H. PEASE. REFLECTOR LAMP.

Patented June 8 mi mums vzrws co, PMDYQ-LIXHD. WASHINGTON. u c

JAMES H. PEASE, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

REFLECTOR-LAMP.

I Specification of Letters Patent No. 9,001, dated June 8, 1852.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, JAMES H. PEASE, of Reading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Construction of Reflector-Lamps for Locomotive-Engines and for other :Purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of my said invention, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 represents a view in perspective 7 of my improved locomotive lamp, Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same.

In all reflector lamps used on locomotive engines, with which I am acquainted, for producing a powerful light to illuminate the track in advance of the engine, a reflector composed wholly of a solid metal is employed, as the great heat engendered by the burning of oil or other material used for producing light has hitherto rendered the employment of a silvered glass reflector 1mpossible, for the amalgam of mercury or quicksilver on which the reflector depends for its power is speedily destroyed by the vaporization of the mercury, and consequently the reflector is dimmed and rendered inoperative.

The object of my invention is to obviate this difficulty and it consists in supporting what is ordinarily termed a glass mirror, or a glass plate covered with a reflecting coating of quicksilver or mercury and tin, by a vessel or holder containing water or other fluid by whose cooling action the mirror is prevented from attaining a temperature sufficiently high to affect it.

The nature of this invention will appear more fully on inspecting the accompanying drawings which represent a locomotive lamp constructed according to the principles of my invention.

This lamp consists mainly of a vessel A with suitable wick tubes Z) Z) for containing and burning oil or other illuminating liquid; of a reflector B; of an inner casing C to prevent the lateral divergence of the light; and of the outer casing D in which the other parts are contained.

The oil vessel A may be of any convenient form and proportions, but it should be large enough to hold a suflicient quantity of oil or spirit-gas to give light for a number of hours without requiring replenishing. This vessel is fitted with a series of wick tubes 5, 6, whose number will depend upon the intensity of light required. It is also fitted with a horizontal tube d, which extends transversely through the outer casing and has two upright tubes f, g, projecting from it. One of these tubes (f) is fitted with a stopper 0, which is withdrawn to admit of the introduction of the burning fluid. The other tube (g) is fitted with a float 6, whose stem extends upward through an aperture in the cap of the tube and has an index 71 secured to it, by inspecting which the quantity of liquid in the vessel is shown, so that the locomotive driver can see when it needs replenishing, and when he has poured in a suflicient quantity of fresh liquid.

The inner casing C is of conical form, it is pierced at its lower side to admit the wick tubes Z2 6, it has also an aperture h at its upper side to permit the passage of smoke which escapes through a funnel and ventilator 7c of the ordinary construction. The hinder end of this inner casing is closed by the mirror or reflector proper B. This mirror consists of a concave plate of glass Z silvered in the usual manner on its hinder face; it is supported by a double backed frame or case F whose heads m, m, are separated by a space to receive water or other cooling medium. This double backed case is fitted in the present example with a single tube p which serves for both the introduction of the water and the escape of vapor that may be generated by the heat. The parts thus far described are enveloped in the outer casing or barrel D, whose front has a glass 1* inserted in it to permit the light to be thrown forward by the reflector, and also to prevent drafts of air or wind from flaring the flame of the wicks within. The back of this case is fitted with ears or other devices to facilitate its attachment to the locomotive, it has also a door, 8, in it, through which the reflector and its frame can be withdrawn and reinserted.

I prefer to attach this lamp to the chimney of the locomotive as it then throws a better light upon the track, I also prefer to use the article generally known as spirit-gas or burning-fluid for my lamp as it gives a good light, and the wicks will burn for a number of hours without requiring trimming. When the lamp is to be lighted the double backed frame of the mirror is first -mercury the latter is kept comparatively cool and its reflecting power is notaffected. When this lamp is appliedto locomotives I propose to connect the double backed mirror frame by a tube or small pipe with the feed pump of the boiler and by another pipe with the tender, so that a constant current of cold water is forced by the pump into the mirror. frame from which it escapes by the second pipe tothe tender. The mirror will therefore be kept constantly cool, and as the pump supplies water constantly, no care is required to replenish the double frame with water.

A lamp of this construction has been in constant use upon a locomotive engine for the greater part of the past year, and experience has proved that it fully answers the ends for which it was invented, for it throws a brilliant light to a great distance upon the track and its efliciency has not been deteriorated by use. If the lamp smokes by reason of a defective trimming the wicks the soot collects on the cooled surfaces but is not burnt into the glass mirror as it is when depositing upon a naked uncooled metal reflector; it is therefore readily removed by wiping with a cloth and the efliciency of the lamp is thus restored, which cannot be done with reflectors of the usual kind which in such cases can only be restored by repolishmg.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- A reflector lamp constructed substantially as herein set forth wit-h a case to contain a cooling liquid for the protection of the reflector from injury as herein described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

' JAMES H. PEASE. Witnesses:

MA'I'IHIAS MENGEL, THOMAS HILL. 

